I am reminded of my daughter’s childlike zeal, eagerness, and boundless joy when I see her. She is just a few months away from turning three and always acts like herself. She is not yet concerned about what others would think of her. She’s free to be an individual and follow her joy and happiness wherever it may take her.

I’ve read recently that an adult’s happiness is scientifically proven to be relative to the number of hugs they receive as a child.  Yet another reason to give Ryleigh a few extra hugs.  She’s a happy, healthy, and joyful girl all the same.

Ryleigh has noticed pockets in the past several months on almost everything. Shirts with pockets, dollies with pockets, jeans with pockets, purses with pockets, and pants with pockets all have pockets. She’ll say, “Momma, I have a pocket,” with such joy, pride, and discovery. When she discovers that we both have pockets, she will exclaim even more joyfully. How incredible!

We were doing our weekly supermarket shopping a few weeks ago. Like me, my daughter enjoys interacting with everyone she meets and is an ardent people watcher. Ryleigh kept smiling and saying hello when everyone came and went. She enjoys making others laugh and jokingly posing pertinent questions, such as “See my shoes?” or “Do you like cookies?”

We had almost everything we needed when browsing the store. A cart then followed us down the aisle a little while later. As he moved down the isle, the individual pulling the cart was irate, obviously upset, complaining, and berating others.

This man appeared to not have been pleased with my cart-driving abilities since he moaned and huffed his way down the aisle. But my daughter had different ideas for him. Do you have pockets, she said in a charming 2-and-a-half-year-old voice. She kept asking, “Do you have pockets?” despite his efforts to dismiss her.

When he saw my daughter’s joyful eyes and beaming face, the irate man raised his head from his grocery list and replied, “Yes.”

Ryleigh laughed and with the biggest smile on her face said, “I have pockets too.  See?  Momma do you have pockets too?”

“Yes, I have pockets too,” I said as I watched the man’s frown fade.

“Bye-bye,” my daughter said as the man walked off no longer slouched, huffing, or an angry old man face.

It’s amazing to me how someone so young can soften a strangers heart.  My daughter didn’t solve world peace or reduce the national deficit, she did one better.  Her pockets full of joy brought a moment of happiness to an old and angry man’s heart.

Pockets Full of Joy

How are you creating pockets of joy in your life as well as your workplace?  Ryleigh and I would love for you to share your stories in the comment section below.

It’s not often that I write about my family and being a mom at Blogging4Jobs.  I like to keep the site primarily business focused, but I do talk alot about how life seeps into your work and that personal interactions and relationships matter, which is why I thought I would share this personal story with you.